At-Large Board Members

Dennis Matthews, Chairman

Edmond, Oklahoma

Dennis is a retired Air Force officer with fourteen years living in Europe, sixteen years in the States in Oklahoma, California, Michigan, Virginia, and Washington DC; and academic/Christian teaching experience worldwide. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Arkansas. Dennis enjoys his hobbies of finance, travel, and golf.

Dennis is the current Chairman of the Shepherd’s Hill International Board of Trustees, on which he has served for four years. He also serves on three other boards in the Oklahoma City area and occasionally babysits four lovely grandkids. He is the husband of a sweetheart Christian woman, Celeste, and a bond-servant of Christ. Celeste and Dennis live in Edmond, Oklahoma and worship at the Northwest church of Christ, where Dennis serves as a shepherd at that congregation.

Elaine D. Kelly, President

Edmond, Oklahoma

Elaine D. Kelly, CPA, is currently the Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration at Oklahoma Christian University (OC). She has taught in the field of accounting at OC for more than 25 years. She has received the Gaylord Chair for Distinguished Teaching Award, currently holds the J. J. Millican Chair in Accounting, and is interested in promoting strong ethical standards in business. Elaine is also the past President of the OC Faculty Association for 2009-10.

After learning about the concepts of Give a Goat, Elaine began working with Shepherd’s Hill in 2013 as the Treasurer. In 2017, she was elected the President of Shepherd’s Hill.

She is married to Dennis, who is a CPA at KWTV-9, and has three children, Denise, Allison and Kelsey, and four grandchildren. Dennis, Elaine, and Denise attend the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma and Elaine is a member of the HIM mission committee and involved in the finance ministry. Elaine is also very involved in the mission work at Namwianga Mission in Zambia, Africa.

Erin E. Engelke, APR, Secretary

Erin Engelke is the Chief External Relations Officer for Sunbeam Family Services, one of the longest serving nonprofits in Oklahoma, where she manages the organization’s fundraising, marketing, public relations and volunteer programs. Previously, she served as in fundraising and public relations roles for Feed the Children, World Neighbors and MidFirst Bank. She has traveled extensively around the world, including Guatemala, Albania and Peru and has a heart for seeing children and families thrive no matter where they live.

A graduate of Oklahoma Christian University, Erin is past president of the Association of Women in Communications and an active member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City and Public Relations Society of America. She is frequently tapped to speak on issues relating to branding, non-profit marketing, management and work-life balance, having served as a 2014 TEDx presenter.

Erin was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award from Oklahoma Christian University, The Journal Record Achievers Under 40 2010 honor, is a 2013 40 Under 40 honoree from okcbiz.com and 40 Under 40 Honoree from Oklahoma Magazine. She is also accredited in public relations (APR) through the Public Relations Society of America.

Erin’s greatest pride is her family – her husband, son and two daughters. They reside in Edmond and are active members of the Memorial Road Church of Christ. She enjoys running, weight lifting, traveling around the world and baking the world’s best chocolate chip cookies.

Jody Jones, Treasurer

Edmond, Oklahoma

Dr. Jody Jones is an associate professor of business finance in Oklahoma Christian University’s College of Business Administration and teaches courses in the university’s Graduate School of Business. Jody’s academic emphases include corporate finance, financial markets, and institutions. Beyond the classroom, Jody leads a spring trip to New York City, where OC students interact with Wall Street leaders and learn best practices in investment management.

Jody has a bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, a master of business administration degree from Oklahoma City University, and a doctorate in higher education from Oklahoma State University. Jody also is OC’s Faculty Association President for the 2017-2018 academic year.

Jody enjoys hunting and fishing in his spare time and travels often.

Jody and his wife, Lisa, are active leaders at Wilshire Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, where Jody serves on the finance committee. Jody and Lisa have three children: Tristen (and husband Austin), Beaux, and Belle.

Jim Fincher

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Jim was born in Ajo, Arizona, a third generation member of the churches of Christ. He attended Pepperdine University and graduated from Arizona State University with a BA in Elementary Education. Jim taught for 21 years, including three years at a Christian School.

Jim is married to Merilyn and they have three children. He has served as a Youth Minister, a bible teacher, deacon, song leader, on Missions Committees, and organized several large fundraising dinners for missions. Jim and Merilyn attend the Northwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City.

Rik Greene

Granbury, TX

Rik studied at Texas A&M and graduated from University of Texas-Arlington. He has been married to the love of his life, Deborah, since 1975. They have two beautiful Christian daughters who married good Christian men, and have three wonderful grandchildren. Rik has been a Christian since 1966 thanks to God and his Grandmother.

Rik has been a member of the Shepherd's Hill board of trustees since 2010. Has been to the Philippines three times to participate in and support Shepherd's Hill mission work.

Howard Hopwood

Oklahoma City, OK

Howard (Hoppy) Hopwood is a retired Chief Master Sergeant with the United States Air Force. He devoted 23 years to military service, and during his time in Salina, Kansas met, and married his wife, Mary.

Their overseas assignments included Spain, Germany, and Great Britain. Hoppy received many awards during his service, which include the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Metal with one oak leaf cluster, National Defense Ribbon, Sharp Shooter Ribbon, National Army and Air Force Good Conduct Medal.

After his retirement from the Air Force, Hoppy worked for 20 years for the Boeing Company in the defense and space industry. After 20 years of service at Boeing, he fully retired. Hoppy and Mary have been married 52 years and have been blessed with two grown children, Rebecca and James, and two grandchildren.

Hoppy and Mary are active members of the Wilshire church of Christ in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where Hoppy has served as a deacon and elder. Hoppy has also served on the board of directors for the nonprofit, Partners for Christian Education, Inc.

Betty J. Massie

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

A member of Northwest Church of Christ in Oklahoma City, Betty serves on the missions committee, conducts classes for women and works with a ministry that serves the solo members of the congregation concentrating mainly on widows and widowers.

With her late husband, Neil Massie, she spent three years on the mission field of Darwin, Australia and later co-authored a book about her Australian experiences. After returning to the states from Australia, they served at Ina Road Church of Christ in Tucson, Arizona where Neil was the pulpit minister.

Betty enjoys traveling and has visited many countries including the Philippines and India on a mission effort. She is retired from Rebel Oil Company in Oklahoma City, and enjoys spending time with family as her favorite activities.

T. Charles Pierson

Arlington, Texas

T. Charles Pierson joined Frog Street in 2014 having been asked by lifetime friend and former business partner Ron Chase, majority owner and CEO of Frog Street, to serve as the company’s President. In this role, Charles has been charged to help the company expand its base of operations across the United States with the goal of becoming the nation’s premiere provider of quality, educational curriculum and professional development services in the space of Early Childhood Learning. Since joining Frog Street almost four years ago, the company has experienced considerable growth expanding its sales presence to a national network resulting in increased curriculum sales.

Prior to joining Frog Street, Charles served as the President and CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Charles joined the organization during a very difficult time in its history and worked to successfully reorganize its workforce. Under Pierson’s leadership, the agency increased its services by 180% and decreased its costs/match by 30% over a six-year period. This progress resulted in Big Brothers Big Sisters Lone Star being named as the 2007 Agency of the Year and Board of the year in both 2006 and 2008 by Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Pierson has been recognized with numerous academic, professional and community awards including the 1997 Tom Vandergriff Leadership Award for the City of Arlington. He is active as a Ministry Leader and Bible School Teacher in his church, the Creekside Church of Christ in Midlothian. He holds both a Bachelor’s of Science (1989) and a Master’s of Business Administration (1990) from Vanderbilt University where he played football and started for 3 years. Charles resides in Arlington, Texas and has been married to his wife Pamela for 32 years; they have two children, Janae and Carl.

Carolyn Wurzbach

Burleson, Texas

Carolyn and her husband, H. F., attend the Burleson Church of Christ in Texas where H. F. is a missions deacon. Carolyn is involved with the teaching and workroom ministry at their church. They have been married for forty-eight years and have two married children and seven grandchildren.

Carolyn is a retired English teacher. She has been honored as the Burleson ISD and Texas Region 11 Secondary Teacher of the Year. Carolyn is currently employed seasonally by an accounting firm as supervisor of the Federal 1040 Tax department. Carolyn also served as a member of the Board of Directors for Noah’s Ark Learning Center, a full-time daycare facility.

Carolyn was one of the original founding board members of Shepherd’s Hill in 2008. She has been a speaker for ladies classes and retreats in the U.S. and the Philippines, including the Philippine National Ladies’ Retreat.

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